Yuto's eyes blazed with determination. "Fire Power: Seventh Technique — Sunflare Strike!" he shouted, his blade igniting in a searing glow. In a burst of heat, he dashed to the devil's side, circling fast enough to confuse it completely."Thunder Power: Seventh Technique — Flashstorm Barrage!" Sousuke roared. Lightning erupted around him, unleashing a storm of electric slashes that threw the devil to the ground. Yuto seized the opening, driving his flaming sword into the creature's chest and tearing out its heart. The devil's body disintegrated into ashes.Tatsusuke stepped forward calmly. "Fog Power: Ninth Technique — Endless Dusk."
A thick, swirling fog enveloped the battlefield, blinding every devil in sight. Through the mist, Akari's voice rang out, "Water Power: First Technique — Flowing Current!" She moved like the tide, slicing through one devil's chest and ripping its heart out before it could even scream."Tatsusuke — Fog Power: First Technique — Vanishing Drift!"
In an instant, he disappeared into the haze, reappeared behind another devil, and struck cleanly—its heart torn free before it hit the ground.Meanwhile, Yuto and Sousuke stood shoulder to shoulder, facing seven devils at once.
"Fire Power: Eighth Technique — Ashen Requiem!" Yuto declared as flames spiraled around him.
"Thunder Power: Fourth Technique — Thundering Gale!" Sousuke shouted, merging twin bolts of lightning into one colossal spear that pierced through a devil's eye, sending it shrieking as the eye regenerated.Yuto staggered for a moment, recalling Yuki's words during training: "You must focus. Unleash your full potential. Let your body burn like fire itself."Driven by sheer will, Yuto's temperature surged. He vanished in a blazing flash and reappeared before the devils, thrusting his blade into three chests in the blink of an eye. The devils fell—hearts torn out—before Yuto collapsed to one knee, panting.Sousuke helped him up. "We're not done yet. We have to finish this."
Yuto nodded. "Fire Power: Fifth Technique — Phoenix Rise!"
The ground cracked open as a fiery phoenix erupted from the flames, diving toward the devils.One devil screamed, "Devil Art: Sixth Technique — Blood Shield!" as a wall of red energy formed, but Yuto countered instantly: "Fire Power: Sixth Technique — Infernal Spiral!" His flaming vortex shattered the barrier, scorching the ground as Sousuke followed up."Thunder Power: Eighth Technique — Endless Thunderclap!"
The barrage was unstoppable—the devil was obliterated. Seizing the moment, Yuto unleashed his finishing move. "Fire Power: First Technique — Blazing Slash!" His sword cut through the heart, ending the beast for good.Two devils remained. Yuto turned to Sousuke. "I'll take one. You take the other."
"Deal."
In perfect harmony they attacked.
"Fire Power: First Technique — Blazing Slash!"
"Thunder Power: First Technique — Roaring Flash!"Both strikes landed true—their enemies vaporized in a storm of fire and lightning.Just as the dust settled, they regrouped with Tatsusuke and Akari. Relief washed over them for a moment—until the ground trembled again.From the shadows, forty devils emerged, their eyes glowing crimson. The battle was far from over.